Birds Active during the day

Gilded Flicker

Colaptes chrysoides

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The golden-winged architect of the Sonoran Desert, the Gilded Flicker is a striking woodpecker that makes its home in the heart of giant cacti.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 28–31 cm (11–12 in); Wingspan: 48–53 cm (19–21 in); Weight: 92–115 g (3.2–4.1 oz)

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Colors

Tan-brown back with black bars; gray face and neck; cinnamon crown. Underparts are white to tan with bold black spots and a large black crescent on the chest. Males feature a red malar (mustache) stripe.

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Key Features

Bright yellow underwings and tail shafts visible in flight
Large white rump patch
Male has a red mustache stripe, female has none
Gray face contrasting with a cinnamon-brown crown

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round; most vocal during spring nesting (March-May)

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Diet Omnivorous, primarily insectivorous. They specialize in ants and termites foraged from the ground but also eat beetles, saguaro fruit, berries, and seeds.

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Habitat Sonoran desert scrub, giant cactus forests (Saguaro and Cardon), and riparian woodlands in arid regions.

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Where Does the Gilded Flicker Live?

The Gilded Flicker is a resident of the North American desert southwest, rarely wandering far from its specialized habitat. Its native range is anchored in the Sonoran Desert, spanning southern Arizona, the southeastern tip of California, and the southernmost point of Nevada. Moving south into Mexico, it is found throughout the Baja California peninsula and much of the state of Sonora, making it a true icon of the international borderlands.

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2 Countries

550K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States MX Mexico

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Gilded Flicker is a unique member of the woodpecker family that has perfectly adapted to life in the arid Southwest. Unlike many other woodpeckers that spend most of their time hammering on trees, the Gilded Flicker is frequently seen on the ground. They are specialized ant-eaters, using their long, slightly curved bills and sticky tongues to lap up thousands of insects from desert soil. Their flight is characteristic of woodpeckers—an undulating, heavy-flapping pattern that reveals a stunning flash of golden-yellow under the wings.

Socially, they are prominent vocalists in the desert morning. Their loud, rhythmic 'wick-wick-wick' calls can be heard from a distance, along with a piercing, single-note 'kyeer' call. They are primary cavity nesters, meaning they excavate their own homes, most famously in giant Saguaro cacti. These holes are vital to the desert ecosystem, as they later provide shelter for owls, flycatchers, and honeybees once the flickers move on.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Gilded Flicker on camera, focus on ground-level activity. Because these birds spend a significant amount of time foraging for ants, a trail camera placed 12 to 18 inches off the ground near an active ant mound or a patch of bare, sandy soil will yield excellent results. Use a wide-angle setting if available, as they can be quite large and active when hopping across the desert floor.

Water is a massive draw in the arid Southwest. Placing your camera near a low-profile bird bath or a dripping water feature is one of the most effective ways to see them. Gilded Flickers are larger than many backyard birds, so ensure your camera is angled to capture a bird that stands nearly a foot tall. They are most active in the early morning hours just after sunrise, so ensure your camera's trigger speed is set to its fastest setting to catch them before they take flight.

If you have a Saguaro cactus on your property with visible nesting holes, aim your camera upward toward the cavity. These birds are very territorial and active around their nest sites from late February through June. Avoid using bright white-light flashes at night near nest sites; instead, rely on high-quality infrared or natural light during their daytime peak hours to avoid disturbing their breeding cycle.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Gilded Flicker.

Northern Flicker

Has red underwings (in the West) and a brownish face, whereas the Gilded has yellow underwings and a gray face.

Gila Woodpecker

Smaller with a completely barred back and no large black chest crescent; males have a red cap rather than a red mustache stripe.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Gilded Flickers are most active during the daylight hours, with a peak in activity during the early morning and late afternoon. In the heat of the desert summer, they are often seen foraging at dawn before retreating to the shade of a Saguaro or mesquite tree during the midday sun.

The best way to attract them is by providing a consistent water source, such as a ground-level bird bath. Planting native desert flora like Saguaro, Organ Pipe cactus, or fruiting shrubs like hackberry can also provide natural food and nesting sites. They are less likely to visit seed feeders but may be attracted to suet during cooler months.

Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly ants and termites, which they lick up from the ground. They also consume various desert fruits, especially the red fruit of the Saguaro cactus during the summer, along with seeds and occasional berries.

Yes, they are quite common in suburban areas within the Sonoran Desert, particularly in neighborhoods that maintain native desert landscaping. They adapt well to parks and golf courses that feature large cacti or desert trees.

Look at the underwings and face. The Gilded Flicker has yellow underwings and a gray face. In the Southwest, the local 'Red-shafted' Northern Flicker has red underwings and a brown face. Additionally, the Gilded Flicker is almost exclusively found in desert cactus habitats, whereas Northern Flickers prefer wooded or higher-elevation areas.

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